Movie #3512 ........................."Merry Christmas, Ted Cooper" (Hallmark)

 Movie #3512 "Merry Christmas, Ted Cooper" (Hallmark)  Well, I usually like all of Kim Sustad's films because she's so honest, and I did like this one, but Ted was a tough acceptance for me --- he was a bit too hard to believe -- a pollyanna kind of character.  So the script went merrily along allowing the jokes to come from all the mishaps Ted has during the Christmas season with his co-workers betting on just how bad it could get for him.  And he just takes everything in stride while re-falling in love with a high school crush, Kim.  Thank goodness the film took an abrupt turn at the conflict --- and had it be that , you guessed it, he WAS too hard to believe, and the couple had to face that obstacle.  The ending actually made me laugh, and with the conflict being a very real one, I am ending up giving this a 4 out of 5 and recommending it.  That's hard to believe, isn't it?

"MERRY CHRISTMAS, TED COOPER"     Hallmark   2025     1 hr 24 mins

A weatherman reunites with his high school crush while on vacation in his hometown.

Director:  Jason Bourque

Writers:  Russell Hairline, Robert Buckley

Actors:  Kimberley Sustad, Robert Buckley    

Movie #3511 ........................."Home Turf" (Hallmark)

 Movie #3511 "Home Turf" (Hallmark)  This is not Christmas, but this is the best of the new "Christmas" batch of Hallmark movies this year so far ---- I really enjoyed this one, and for it being on football, it must have been a great script with interesting characters and good acting.  And it was!  Nikki DeLoach is one of my favorites so I wasn't surprised the film would be one of the better ones, but having not been impressed by Warren Christie in his Montana film that started all the Hallmark christmas season this year, I was totally floored he was so engaging in this one --- and he had to go pretty far in being convincing as a big deal football player and son of a guru in football --- the story involved a part of a football team that has no housing for a while (due to bad water pipes) and they move into the president of a small colleges home for that amount of time , and everyone changed a little bit for the better.  So its focus seemed to rise above the usually surfacey subject matter that is covered in some of these Hallmark films.  The forming of a temporary 'family" with non-football enthusiasts and football players makes for an optimistic game plan for a film and I'd give it a 5.  This is a must see this year, I think.

"HOME TURF"       Hallmark     2025      

The life of Cassidy, president of a small college, is thrown for a loop when freshmen n the football team move into her home.  Can Logan, the handsome coach help smooth things over?

Director:  Maclin Nelson

Writers:  Gregg Rossen, Brian Sawyer

Actors:  Nikki Deloah, Warren Christie, Louis Boakye

  

Movie #3510 ........................."Haul Out the Halloween" (Hallmark)

 Movie #3510 "Haul Out the  Halloween" (Hallmark)  Lacy Chabert and the guy in these series of "Haul Out" films are good in their scenes, when the film stops being a gatling gun of lame jokes --- characters are caricatures, so the only real people are Lacy, the guy and Melissa Peterman (who plays Pamela) -- her part is as big as the others, but she knows how to get it across -- I think the lines are delivered fast because the actors know they are stinkers and would fall flat once they come out of their mouths. It is a try at including Halloween antics --- but they are just presented with bobbing apples and magic tricks --- not as much subject matter as Christmas movies can offer.  I would still encourage them to investigate this holiday and possibly thanksgiving even more in future ones --- and this film had a valid theme:  they learned to work together instead of the constant competing --- and i'm glad of that because watching competition is not all that funny.  I'd give this a 3 and not recommend it.

"HAUL OUT THE HALLOWEEN"   2025     1 hr and 24 mins      Hallmark

New, Halloween-obsessed neighbors inspire residents of Evergreen Lane to haul out their spookiest costumes and decor to become Ever SCREAM Lane.  (boy, it should work, but it just didn't)

Director:  Maclain Nelson

Writers:  Maclain Nelson, Christopher Set, Andy Sandberg

Actors:  Lacey Chabert, Wes Brown, Stephen Tobolowsky, Melissa Peterman 

Movie #3509 ........................."John Candy: I Like Me: " (Amazon Prime)

 Movie #3509 "I Like Me:  John Candy documentary" (Amazon Prime)  disclaimer:  I was never a big fan of John Candy --- I usually felt he was way too big for television and oftentimes pastimes the silly line for me; however, this documentary made me want to check out some of his movies.  Why?  he was such a nice guy to all of the people he would meet and work with, and he worked hard to be taken seriously.  Ryan Reynolds produced the film , and his stories about getting Dan Aykroyd  and Bill Murray to be in this documentary were hilarious so it made me want to see it.  Colin Hanks directed it, too, and I am a big fan of his work, and of course his dad's work.  It had a variety of ways to present Mr. Candy, from interviews, to glimpses of his rehearsals, actual footage of some SNL sketches, and scenes from his movies, all while getting across this well respected comedian who seemed loved by all who knew and worked with him.  I'd give it a 3.5 -- and recommend it --- a good documentary and worth your while to watch it.

"JOHN CANDY:  I LIKE ME"         Amazon Prime    PG-13   1 hour and 53 mins      2025

Explores the life and legacy of the iconic funnyman John Candy, who died of a heart attack in 1994 at the age of 43.  

Director  Colin Hanks

Movie #3508 ........................."A Christmas Angel Match" (Hallmark)

 Movie #3508 " Christmas Angel match" (Hallmark)  Well, this one was way out of the box -- written by the actress in the film  with the focus on   Angels in competition in putting together romantic couples.  Two angels who don't get along and constantly compete with each other are put together to work on a rather difficult coupling.  Sounds goofy, but it is funny in parts. I usually ditch Hallmark films about angels, but I started watching this one, and I noticed the script seemed carefully written and well thought out.  For example, it made of itself and snowball fights, flashdancing , lame cute meetups that look forced.  The couple the angels are trying to put together aren't your usually charismatic one.  And the couple of angels have to be passionate in trying to get their crazy ideas across, so it tends to work.  I'd give it a 4, and I thought it was worth a look see. 

"A CHRISTMAS ANGEL MATCH"    Hallmark    2025

Two Christmas Angels with opposite styles must nite soulmates before the holiday while dealing with department downsizing and their own unexpected connection. 

Director:  Christie Will Wolf

Writer:  Meghan Fry

Actors:  Meghan Fry, Benjamin,in Ayres

Movie #3507 ........................."Andrew Young: The Dirty Work" (MSNBC)

Movie #3507 "Andrew Young:  The Dirty Work" (MSNBC)This documentary was a good one, but I felt it could have given even more information but be shorter (better edited) .  There was a lot of just him talking.  But the major point of the film came across quite well:   A lot can be accomplished through protesting.  I'd give this a 4 out of 5.

"ANDREW YOUNG:  THE DIRTY WORK"    2025     2 hrs

A  Civil Rights icon shares his remarkable path from pastor to MLK's ally, congressman, UN Ambassador, and Atlanta may9or, revealing the gritty realities of fighting for social change across decades of American history.  

Director:  Matt Kay

Stars:    Andrew Young

 

Movie #3505 ........................."A Royal Mountain Christmas" (Hallmark)

Movie #3505 "A Royal Mountain Christmas" (Hallmark)  Well, this idea didn't work out:  take a member of royalty (one subgenre in Hallmark movies) and put her into one of those mountain ranch type movies --- and make it the premier of all the Christmas movies for Hallmark 2025!  Nope -- a big disappointment to me.  this film never pulled me in --- the fake British  accent on the lead actress (she was born in S. California) was annoying -- the story was weak, conflict weak --- the guy was good to look at but not used well at all in the film -- I'd give it a 3, and suggest skipping it.

"A ROYAL MONTANA CHRISTMAS"   2 hrs,( well, that's it --- too long for Hallmark!)   2025   Hallmark  

Princess Victoria of Zelarnia is ready for a change of pace.  Looking to decompress in the days leading up to Christmas, she decides to take a vacation to Peaceful Pines Ranch in Montana.

Director:  Peter Benson

Writers:  Mark Famiglietti, Michael Testa

Actors:  Fiona Gubelmann, Warren Christie, Remy Marthaller 

 

Movie #3506 ......................,...."Adventures in Love and Birdnig" (Hallmark)

 Movie #3506 "Adventures in Love and Birding" (Hallmark)  I love Rachel Boston, I love Andrew W. Walker, but I did not like this movie.  They were their usual cuteness and competence in whatever they were doing, but the topic failed them -- birding --- oh come on, birding not exciting?  There's finding the birds, writing down you found them and watching them through binoculars and finally taking a picture.  And there are contests for all of this.  Well, the stage business just didn't work for me, very boring.  I'd give it 3.5 and I do not recommend.

"ADVENTURES OF LOVE AND BIRDING"        Hallmark        1 hour and 24 mins       2025

Newly-divorced Celeste teams up with John for a bird-watching contest leading to unexpected romance.  (unexpected?  you have got to be kidding)

Director :  Michael Robison

Writers:  Nicole Baxter, Sarah T. Dubb

Actors:  Rachel Boston, Andrew W. Walker

Movie #3504 ........................"The Makeover" (Hallmark)

Movie #3504 "The Makeover" (Hallmark) This was really different for a Hallmark movie -- It was the usual "corny" in some spots, and it doesn't teach a lot about politics, but it is political, showing something we are lacking a lot these days --- politicians with integrity.  Hard to believe, right?  Well, it made me feel better that there just might be still some people like the ones in this film.  Woman, who has all the smarts to run, but she's female, decides to do a makeover of a likable guy who knows very little about politics, but he has a lot of heart!  I give it a 4 out of 5.

"MAKEOVER"       Hallmark    2013               1 hour and 33 mins

After losing election for US Congress, the well spoken Hannah coaches a beer vendor for the position as he, contrary to Hannah, has a likable personality.  Can they learn from each other?

Director:  John Gray

Writer:  C. Jay Cox

Actors:  Julia Stiles, David Walton, Camryn Manheim  

Movie #3503 ........................."I Used to be Funny" (netflix)

Movie #3503 "I Used to be Funny" (Netflix )  The weird title got me to watch this the other night, and I found it had an intriguing story ---  a young woman becomes an aupair when she's in her 20s for a difficult young teen who lathes on to her --- the teen's mom is sickly and the dad doesn't pay as much attention as he should because of the nature of the girl and what she is going through.  The au pair senses that and becomes too close --- so when she wants to spend more of her time honing her skills as a stand up comic, the young teen feels abandoned and thrown away --- to make matters worse, the dad causes more problems that separate the two girls.  The film is a bit rough (rough in transitions, photography and some clunky dialogue)  at times, but has a good message, and like I said, the subject matter is a bit different.  I'd give it 3.5 out of 5.  With a mild recommendation.

"I USED TO BE FUNNY"     Netflix        2023       1 hour and 45 minutes

Sam, a stand-up comedian struggling with PTSD, weighs whether or not to join the search for a missing teenage girl she used to nanny.

Director:  Ally Pankiw

Writer:  Ally Pankiw

Actors:  Rachel Sennott, Olga Petra, Jason Jones 

Movie #3502 ........................."Superman" (Max)

Movie #3502 "Superman" (Max)    TOO MUCH FIGHTING!!!!!!!!!!! More dog scenes and scenes with Lois Lane (Brosnahan was the only reason I would watch this kind of film)  Disappointing to me  - 3 out of 5

PS - he was interesting, though  --- I wouldn't mind seeing more of him as Superman -- his awkwardness was believable -- and kindness in his eyes.

"SUPERMAN"    2025     PG-13      2 hours, 9 mins 

Superman must reconcile his alien Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as reporter Clark Kent.  As the embodiment of truth, justice and the human way he soon finds himself in a world that views these as old-fashioned. 

Director:  James Gunn

Writers:  James Gunn, Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster

Actors:  David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult

 

Movie #3501 ........................."The Groomsmen: Last Dance" (Hallmark)

Movie #3501 "The Groomsmen:  Last Dance" (Hallmark)  Well, I had to finish the trilogy, right?  Plus , this was Tyler Hynes' film, so should be the best?  not really, but because of the script, not him.  Anyway, there was a bit too much angst in this one -- stage business was full of just awkward meet ups, but there was one intriguing one in a big dance...... thus, the title.  I'd give it a 4.  Okay finish, but nothing really special.  Sorry , guys!

"THE GROOMSMEN:  LAST DANCE"      Hallmark        2024    1 hr and 24 mins    G-rating

Jackson moves to Italy to be near his daughter, but a chance meeting with cafe owner Gabriella, and some meddling friends, may lead to a second chance at love.

Director:  Ron Oliver

Writers:  Ron Oliver, Greg Baldwin, Jonathan Bennett

Actors:  Tyler Hynes, Jonathan Bennett, B. J. Britt 

Movie #3500 ........................."Haunted Wedding" (Hallmark)

 Movie #3500 "Haunted Wedding" (Hallmark)  I found this quite amusing because the stage business in this film was talking to ghosts, like the t.v. show, and I found that very funny.  The two leads were earnest, and this time the conflict wasn't between the two of them, but them and the other world.  I liked that dare- to -be- different- road taken in this one.  I'd give it a 4.  

"HAUNTED WEDDING"        Hallmark     2024    1 hour and 24 mins

The wedding between ghosts hunters Jane and Brian at a haunted inn is disrupted by Angelique, a ghost who mistakes Brian for her own dead fiancé.

Director:  Jeff Beesley

Writers:  Rod Spence, Nina Weinman

Actors:  Janel Parrish, Dominic Sherwood, Cassandra Potenza

Movies #3499 ........................."Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale" (theatre)

 Movie #3499 "DownAbbey  The Grand Finale" (theatre)  I loved this from beginning (recap) to the very end (a nostalgic look back  with film footage from all those years of watching ) Disclaimer:  I am a big fan, so I was watching it from that POV --- I have no idea if you never watched any of the shows , and just came in blindly to watch this film.  I should think you wouldn't get much, because of all the baggage that came along through the years.  Anyway, the opening music is way different from the usual opening for this show, and I didn't like it at first, but then I realized while watching the film that CHANGE was the main theme, and so I saw it as setting the tone nicely from the get-go.  Change is inevitable and there are some sad, negative elements of it that are brought out in the film (Maggie is gone now, the house itself is due for a lot of work - leadership change, and downstairs crew is getting older and changing out) but change can lead to so many doors opening in the future --- hope, which is what we could use in this horrible political climate.  From the beginning there's a nice, but very very quick recap to remind us where we left all the members of the family --- names go by quickly and we have to remember them.  I wish they would have set the scene a tad more slowly as to where we were and the immediate conflict - because I kept getting the major house (Downton Abbey, which I don't remember them ever calling it that through the whole film) mixed up with their property in London (The Grantham London estate)   - and then throw in discussions of Maggie Smith's place and well, houses can be confusing. And going from one place to another divides the downstairs (wait staff) quite a bit, too.   Example of confusion - Mary and Sis walking in London street, and a woman comes by and asks them how Bertie and Henry are --- I gulp  because I am trying to place those names, when the writer woman could have said, your husbands, Bertie and Henry.  Help us out, Henry (Matthew Goode) was hardly in the previous movies..... and wasn't going to show up at all in this one due to schedule conflict and a knee operation.  But it was a good thing he didn't because his absence afford an excellent conflict for Mary through the entire finale movie.  Another example of confusion was with Sibby --- when Tom arrives we hardly see the woman he is with --- why not remind us if he is with Sibby, his daughter or his new wife.... just a little help.  I need to stop before I say too much about the plot, but I want to give a resounding A+ to the very ending --- to me, the whole show was about the relationship between the Upstairs people and the Downstairs staff, and there were very few times that they shared screen time all together having a great time --- and they preserved that for us at the end in this finale.  A nice neat bow wrapped around a very entertaining film.  I'd give this a 4.5 out of 5.   And highly recommend it!

"DOWNTON ABBEY:  THE GRAND FINALE"       theatre     2025      PG      2 hours, 3 mins

When Mary finds herself in a public scandal and the family faces financial trouble, the household grapples with the threat of social disgrace.  The Crawleys must embrace change with the next generation leading Downton Abbey into the future.

Director:  Simon Curtis

Writer:  Julian Fellowes

Actors:   Michelle Dockery, Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Laura Carmichael, Brendan Coyle, Joanne Froggatt, Jim Carter, Allen Leech, and many more

Movie #3498 ........................." The Groomsmen: Second Chance" (Hallmark)

Movie #3498 "The Groomsmen:  Second Chance" (Hallmark)    What the heck -- I saw the first one, I might as well finish the trilogy, right?  This time, Danny, the gay guy of the 3, ends up planning his bet friend's wedding in Greece, but , no spoilers here after first 20 minutes, he wishes HE were marrying his best friend.  This was lame with all the wedding preparations except for the drop dead views of Santorini, where the wedding is being planned (and where we went to recently, so we could enjoy it again without being there) Therefore, once they move the film to Greece in the last hour, I found it much better.  And the ending itself ended p to be very emotional and heartfelt.  I feel this film went farther into a gay relationship than any other Hallmark I have seen on the subject --- for these reasons, the film moved from the 3 area to a 4 one for me.

"THE GROOSMEN:  SECOND CHANCE"       Hallmark2024     1 hour and 24 mins

Danny finds the courage to admit his romantic feelings for his bet friend when he is asked to be the best man at his wedding in Greece.

Director:  Ron Oliver

Writers:  Rick Garman, Greg Baldwin, Jonathan Bennett

Actors:  Jonathan Bennett, Tyler Hynes, B. J. Britt

Movie #3497 ........................."Thursday Murder Club" (Netflix)

Movie #3497 "Thursday Murder  Club" (Netflix)   This movie proves if you cut out a few characters and suspects, trim the fat and change one of the characters a bit, voila!  A better story can result from the book, which I read recently when I found out Pierce Brosnan was going to be one of the main characters in it.  This was much funnier than the book and less convoluted.  In the book, there were several deaths to deal with (my complaint after reading the book ---- too down of subject matter in a home for seniors.)  They actually added more for the four main actors to do, and had  much less of Donna and her boss  (the cops) covered in the show --- not a good time to show characters in law and order business that aren't better detectives than 4 senior citizens.  Good choice.  I would give this a strong 4 and recommend it, esp. if you like any of the 4 leads.  (stunning UK actors)

"THURSDAY MURDER CLUB"  (Netflix)  2025     PG-13     1 hr and 58 mins

Four irrepressible retirees spend their time solving cold case murders for fun, but their casual sleuthing takes a thrilling turn when they find themselves with a real whodunit on their hands.

Director:  Chris Columbus

Writers:  Katy Brand, Suzanne Heathcote, Richard Osman

Actors:  Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, Celia Imrie (from Marigold Hotel)

Movie #3496 ........................."The Groomsmen: First Look" (Hallmark)

 Movie #3496 "The Groomsmen:  First Look"  (Hallmark)   how could I not watch this one with one of my favorite Hallmark guys (Tyler Hynes) in it, well, for a short time .  This was the male answer to the Wedding Veil Legacy (the female version last year).  The girl is strong is this one and so are the three guys.  But to be honest, they come across as goofballs when put together, so good thing they only come together  couple of times.  The focus is on the one guy, who is a doctor, who falls in love with another doctor -- and the conflict is?  you guessed it:  how can a relationship work out when both are way too busy to develop one?  Well, with the guys' help, they manage to get to a wedding by the ending of the show.  3.8 out of 5 for this one, not a lot new here, just a typical long distance relationship is studied.  That is usually a conflict used for short amount of time, but it is used through the whole film.  ;That, pushy friends and mothers, and it is  wonder they get to the end in one piece --- but that was in the Hallmark contract.

"THE GROOMSMEN:  FIRST LOOK"     Hallmark    2024    1 hr and 22 mins

A pediatrician and an overseas doctor, meet at a wedding in Philadelphia, but the long distance, family and their friends may hinder their budding romance.

Director:  Ron Oliver

Writers:  Rick Garma, Ron Oliver, Greg Baldwin

Actors:  B. J. Britt, Jonathan Bennett, Tyler Hynes

Movie #3495 ........................."The Residence" (netflix, season 1, 8 episodes)

 Movie #3495 "The Residence" (Netflix, season 1, 8 episodes)  It took me a long time to warm uo to this one --- actually, about 4 episodes, because they seemed long and drawn out, but the last 4 episodes were good once you get into the rhythm of the show.  As of now, there won't be a season 2, because it seems a complete movie, when all put together.  I am still not a huge fan of 8 episodes or longer stuff --- why not make it into one concise movie -- yes, this has quite a few characters to deal with, but does each have to have so many minutes to investigate?  The saving grace of this show, to me, is the lead detective, who happens to be a bird fancier, which is funny in itself.  I really wholeheartedly recommend this show, but be aware the first couple of episodes will be challenging to many.  I'd give it a 4 out of 5.  P.S.  incidentally, the residence, where the murder has been committed, is the White House.  It gives a good idea just how many people work in a place that important.

"THE RESIDENCE"                Netflix          2025           50 min. each episode, 8 episodes

Inside the White House's staff residence and the lives workers share with the First Family.

Creator :  Paul William Davies

Actors:  Uzo Aduba, Giancarlo Esposito, Molly Griggs 

Movie #3494 ........................."The Frisco Kid" (Amazon Prime)

 Movie #3494 "The Frisco Kid" (Amazon Prime)  After watching a documentary on Gene Wilder, we decided to watch some of his films we had never seen , and this one seemed obvious to see because he was paired with a young Harrison Ford.  But we were very disappointed -- it seemed a one-joke movie, and even though Ford and Wilder worked well together, they couldn't make the clunky story and script they had to work with.  The story was pretty stagnant through most of the film.  I'd give it a 3 out of 5 and don't bother recommendation, even though I am a big fan of both actors.

"THE FRISCO KID"          Amazon Prime        1979       PG     1 hour and 59 mins

A Polish rabbi wanders through the Old West on his way to lead a synagogue in San Francisco.  On the way, he is nearly burned at the stake by Native Americans and almost killed by outlaws. (doesn't sound boring, does it?  hmmm)

Director:  Robert Aldrich

Writers:  Michael Elias, Frank Shaw

Actors:  Gene Wilder, Harrison Ford